The whole area of Sibu Rural District Council lies within the Sibu District Administrative, Division. It measures approximately 5,869.35 sq. kilometers with the recent inclusion of Selangau District into SRDC jurisdiction in 2002.

In the early days, ever since it's experimental formation, the area of Sibu Rural District Council was divided into wards system, which orginally consisted of twenty-two wards. Somehow later, due to the specific review of the demarcation of boundary, Ward 16, (the adjacent area which lies next to the border outskirt of the then Sibu Municipal Council) was then vested into Sibu Municipal Council Administrative jurisdiction in 1981. Similarly, Ward 1, which was commonly known as Igan area was then handed over officially to the administrative authority of Matu-Daro District Council in October, 1991. Thus, Sibu Rural District Council was then reduced to only twenty wards and in comparison, the area size was approximately about 25 times larger the present area of Sibu Municipal Council.

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONS

Generally, the natural landscape of SRDC area is made up of a gentle hill slope to the north-west, a vegetation much of the secondary forest. Shifting cultivations (planting of hill padi ) are still being practised at only a moderate scale beside the planting of oil palm, pepper and local fruit trees on part of the low-projecting plateau and flat-plain. To the south and south west, the Rejang basin is rapidly intercepted by numerous samall tributaries. The vegetation is fairly made-up of both primary and secondary forest, lying on most of the coastal and down-river lowland.

Apparently as you navigate along the mightly Batang Lassa and Batang Igan , you can always notice a long stretch of nipah palm growing aggressively reflecting a common feature of muddy and swampy peat soil area. This part of the region which was once left idle has nowadays been drained-out by the machine-made cannels accessible at a few kilometres length into parts of the interior. The noble cause which was implemented by the Drainage and Irrigation Department, had benifitted the local residents to plant cash-crops, such as Japanese orange, local Bintangor orange, maize, vegetables, tapioca and fruit trees along the stretch of low-dried land.

Of-course, the feature of the nearby areas along the stretch of Batang Rejang , Batang Igan dan Batang Lassa have tremendously being shaped by the setting-up of down-stream wood-processing industries, ship-yard building industries and sago- moulding factories.

Based on the 2000 census, the total number of resident residing in Sibu Rural District Council area was recorded approximately at 60,000. Areas along the river banks and road-sides are much more densely populated compared to some parts of the interior which are yet accessible by public transportations. Perhaps, convenience communication networks and job apportunities at the industrial sectors have precipitated to attract the population growth. Most part of the areas along the down-rivers of Batang Lassa, Batang Igan , Batang Rejang and its hinterland are predominantly inhabited by the Ibans . The Chinese were known to have inhabited the areas which are reachable by public transportations, making it easier for them to market-out their farming products. The Melanaus and the Malays can scarcely be found along the riverbanks, as their main occupation are farming, fishing and planting of sago.

HISTORY

SRDC Board of Management in 1952.

EXPERIMENTAL ELECTION Sibu Rural District Council was constituted and vested with an executive powers on 1.1.1952, after initially undergoing an experimental stage known as the Dayak Local Authority from 1.1.1950 to 31.12.1951. In the early stage of its experimental formation, the members of this Council were appointed by the then Colonial government, drawn-up from the area community leaders such as Iban Penghulu , Ketua Kampung and Chinese kapitan . Their terms of office were determined and decided by the White District Officer, who were simultaneously appointed as the Chairman of the Council until the year 1959.  The first experimental election which was purportedly conducted to elect Councillors was held in the year 1960. It was evidently proven to be quite successfully. The method began through the simple nomination of potential and popular candidates representating various wards. In exercising the democratic right in the election, only head of the households were eligible to cast their votes within each ward. Normally, the nominated candidates who were nominated to join the fray, were likely those of the community leaders. This level of society stand greater chances in lobbying and winning grassroot supports, largely because they were accorded with more privileges and opportunities to associate themselves with the then District Officers either through official meetings or informal gatherings. Another vital contributing factor that perhaps could influence the voters, was attributed towards their willingness and their generosity to contribute voluntarily, either in cash or in other kinds towards all activities that were being organized in their respective area during those days. Traditionally, one can always can respect, confident and appreciation from their full commitments and responsiveness towards reacting to the plights and grievances of the people in their respective areas. Cr. Datuk Amar Ling Beng Siew , DA, P.N.B.S., took over the office as the first elected chairman of Sibu Rural District Council from January, 1960 until June, 1963.

PAST BRITISH CHAIRMEN IN (COLONIAL ERA) 1. Mr. G. Lloyd Thomas (District Officer) 18.11.1952 - 03.08.1954 2. Mr. AFR Griffin (District Officer) 04.08.1954 - 29.10.1954 3. Mr. G.A.T. Shaw (District Officer) 30.10.1954 - 13.12.1955 4. Mr. D.C. Walker (District Officer) 14.12.1955 - 27.03.1958 5. Mr. I.A.N. Urquhart (District Officer)  28.03.1958 - 31.12.1959

EARLY ESTABLISHMENT Another election of Councillors was held in 1963, shortly before the historic formation of the Malaysian Federation. This time, the election was an open affair. Cr. Wong Kwong Yu, A>B.S., B.B.S., took over the chairmanship in July 1963. Thereafter, those Councillors who have been elected in this District Council evel would then re-elect amongst themselves between 5-6 members to sit in the then so-called 3 rd Division Divisional Advisory Council

(present day area covering Sibu , Kapit and Sarikei Divisions). Sibu Rural District Council was represented by only five members. Subsequently, the 3 rd Division Divisional Advisory Council would again re-elect amongst themselves eleven representatives to the State Legislative Assembly. Hence, this system was popularly known in those days as the Three-Tier or Three Levels of Election process to the State Legislative Assembly.

INTERGRATION OF MANAGEMENT
Realising the needs and necessities to integrate and restructure the top-level management of some major town Councils in Sarawak, the then so-called State BN3 government began to adopt a new approach, to appoint a local prominent political figure instead of the serving District Officer to be installed as Chairman. The then Council Negeri member of Dudong State Constituency, YB Encik Jawan Empaling was sworn in as the first appointed politician to the post of Sibu Rural District Council's Chairman on 15.7.1987. He left the office on 31.12.1992 and was succeeded by another respectable, well known political figure,
YB Datuk Wong Soon Koh , a member of Dewan Undangan Negeri for Bawang Assan State Constituency. His tenure of office was cut short until 17.3.1994, upon his elevation to the Speaker of Dewan Undangan Negeri . However, another young but experienced politician, Encik Vincent Goh Chung Siong now member of Dewan Undangan Negeri for Pelawan State Constituency, was in his stade and officially installed as the Chairman of Sibu Rural District Council on 1.1.1995. He has been a Deputy Chairman and the Councillor of Sibu Rural District Council since 1984. Encik Oliver Guo Ging Bing was then appointed as SRDC chairman on 1.7.1998 and he left the office in December 2003. His deputy Cr. James Laju ak. Ambok who has been a SRDC Councillor since early 80s then took over the office as the new Chairman of Sibu Rural District Council.